US house passes 'sanctions on the Chinese Communist Party’s tyranny and oppression act'
- In Reports
- 01:37 PM, Sep 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
The US House of Representatives passed the “Sanctions on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Tyranny and Oppression Act” on Wednesday, with a vote of 243 to 174. The legislation, referred to as the Stop CCP Act, allows for the imposition of sanctions on members of the National Communist Party Congress of the People’s Republic of China.
The act states that the CCP, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is responsible for “violations of Hong Kong’s autonomy,” “increased aggression against the people of Taiwan,” and “acts of repression and genocide against Uighur Muslims.” According to the proposed law, if the US president determines that “sanctionable conduct” has occurred, members of the CCP’s central committee—comprising about 200 permanent and 160 alternating members—will be prohibited from buying or selling property in the US.
Additionally, these top communist officials would be ineligible for US entry visas or could have existing visas revoked. The sanctions would also extend to any “adult family members” of the top-ranking party members and their spouses.
“Sanctionable conduct” is defined in the act as actions that play a “significant role in the development or implementation” of policies that violate the autonomy of Hong Kong, harass or intimidate the people of Taiwan, or contribute to political oppression or human rights violations within China, including against Uighur Muslims. The US president must determine whether such conduct has occurred for the sanctions to take effect.
The act, sponsored by Republican Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan, repeatedly mentions Taiwan, stating, “Since the election of [former] president Tsai Ing-wen as president of Taiwan in 2016, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has intensified its efforts to pressure Taiwan through diplomatic isolation and military provocations.” It adds, “The rapid modernisation of the People’s Liberation Army and recent military manoeuvres in and around the Taiwan Strait illustrate a clear threat to Taiwan’s security.”
Furthermore, the act reiterates key aspects of the Taiwan Relations Act, highlighting that the US is required to “maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.”
Now that the bill has passed the House, it will be sent to the Senate for deliberation. If the Senate approves the bill after returning from recess on November 12, it may be signed into law by the president.
The passage of the Stop CCP Act follows previous legislation targeting high-ranking members of China’s ruling party, many of whom own extensive financial assets in the US despite party propaganda denouncing the country. On September 9, the House also passed the Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act, which would restrict financial services for certain immediate family members of CCP officials if Beijing attacked Taiwan.
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